Sex differences in fetal growth and immediate birth outcomes in a low-risk Caucasian population
Abstract Background According to the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study Group recommendations, boys and girls have different growth trajectories after birth. Our aim was to develop gender-specific fetal growth curves in a low-risk population and to compare immediate birth outcomes. Methods First...
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doaj-44cd676385084b7f9bbf34d8dfbdb0f52020-11-25T03:40:07ZengBMCBiology of Sex Differences2042-64102019-09-0110111210.1186/s13293-019-0261-7Sex differences in fetal growth and immediate birth outcomes in a low-risk Caucasian populationSander Galjaard0Lieveke Ameye1Christoph C. Lees2Anne Pexsters3Tom Bourne4Dirk Timmerman5Roland Devlieger6KU Leuven Department of Development and Regeneration: Pregnancy, Fetus and Neonate, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospitals LeuvenDepartment of Development and Regeneration, KU LeuvenKU Leuven Department of Development and Regeneration: Pregnancy, Fetus and Neonate, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospitals LeuvenKU Leuven Department of Development and Regeneration: Pregnancy, Fetus and Neonate, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospitals LeuvenKU Leuven Department of Development and Regeneration: Pregnancy, Fetus and Neonate, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospitals LeuvenKU Leuven Department of Development and Regeneration: Pregnancy, Fetus and Neonate, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospitals LeuvenKU Leuven Department of Development and Regeneration: Pregnancy, Fetus and Neonate, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospitals LeuvenAbstract Background According to the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study Group recommendations, boys and girls have different growth trajectories after birth. Our aim was to develop gender-specific fetal growth curves in a low-risk population and to compare immediate birth outcomes. Methods First, second, and third trimester fetal ultrasound examinations were conducted between 2002 and 2012. The data was selected using the following criteria: routine examinations in uncomplicated singleton pregnancies, Caucasian ethnicity, and confirmation of gestational age by a crown-rump length (CRL) measurement in the first trimester. Generalized Additive Model for Location, Scale and Shape (GAMLSS) was used to align the time frames of the longitudinal fetal measurements, corresponding with the methods of the postnatal growth curves of the WHO MGRS Group. Results A total of 27,680 complete scans were selected from the astraia© ultrasound database representing 12,368 pregnancies. Gender-specific fetal growth curves for biparietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), and femur length (FL) were derived. The HC and BPD were significantly larger in boys compared to girls from 20 weeks of gestation onwards (p < 0.001) equating to a 3-day difference at 20–24 weeks. Boys were significantly heavier, longer, and had greater head circumference than girls (p < 0.001) at birth. The Apgar score at 1 min (p = 0.01) and arterial cord pH (p < 0.001) were lower in boys. Conclusions These longitudinal fetal growth curves for the first time allow integration with neonatal and pediatric WHO gender-specific growth curves. Boys exceed head growth halfway of the pregnancy, and immediate birth outcomes are worse in boys than girls. Gender difference in intrauterine growth is sufficiently distinct to have a clinically important effect on fetal weight estimation but also on the second trimester dating. Therefore, these differences might already play a role in early fetal or immediate neonatal management.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13293-019-0261-7Fetal anthropometric gender differencesPrenatal growthBirth outcomesPerinatal and neonatal management |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Sander Galjaard Lieveke Ameye Christoph C. Lees Anne Pexsters Tom Bourne Dirk Timmerman Roland Devlieger |
spellingShingle |
Sander Galjaard Lieveke Ameye Christoph C. Lees Anne Pexsters Tom Bourne Dirk Timmerman Roland Devlieger Sex differences in fetal growth and immediate birth outcomes in a low-risk Caucasian population Biology of Sex Differences Fetal anthropometric gender differences Prenatal growth Birth outcomes Perinatal and neonatal management |
author_facet |
Sander Galjaard Lieveke Ameye Christoph C. Lees Anne Pexsters Tom Bourne Dirk Timmerman Roland Devlieger |
author_sort |
Sander Galjaard |
title |
Sex differences in fetal growth and immediate birth outcomes in a low-risk Caucasian population |
title_short |
Sex differences in fetal growth and immediate birth outcomes in a low-risk Caucasian population |
title_full |
Sex differences in fetal growth and immediate birth outcomes in a low-risk Caucasian population |
title_fullStr |
Sex differences in fetal growth and immediate birth outcomes in a low-risk Caucasian population |
title_full_unstemmed |
Sex differences in fetal growth and immediate birth outcomes in a low-risk Caucasian population |
title_sort |
sex differences in fetal growth and immediate birth outcomes in a low-risk caucasian population |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
Biology of Sex Differences |
issn |
2042-6410 |
publishDate |
2019-09-01 |
description |
Abstract Background According to the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study Group recommendations, boys and girls have different growth trajectories after birth. Our aim was to develop gender-specific fetal growth curves in a low-risk population and to compare immediate birth outcomes. Methods First, second, and third trimester fetal ultrasound examinations were conducted between 2002 and 2012. The data was selected using the following criteria: routine examinations in uncomplicated singleton pregnancies, Caucasian ethnicity, and confirmation of gestational age by a crown-rump length (CRL) measurement in the first trimester. Generalized Additive Model for Location, Scale and Shape (GAMLSS) was used to align the time frames of the longitudinal fetal measurements, corresponding with the methods of the postnatal growth curves of the WHO MGRS Group. Results A total of 27,680 complete scans were selected from the astraia© ultrasound database representing 12,368 pregnancies. Gender-specific fetal growth curves for biparietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), and femur length (FL) were derived. The HC and BPD were significantly larger in boys compared to girls from 20 weeks of gestation onwards (p < 0.001) equating to a 3-day difference at 20–24 weeks. Boys were significantly heavier, longer, and had greater head circumference than girls (p < 0.001) at birth. The Apgar score at 1 min (p = 0.01) and arterial cord pH (p < 0.001) were lower in boys. Conclusions These longitudinal fetal growth curves for the first time allow integration with neonatal and pediatric WHO gender-specific growth curves. Boys exceed head growth halfway of the pregnancy, and immediate birth outcomes are worse in boys than girls. Gender difference in intrauterine growth is sufficiently distinct to have a clinically important effect on fetal weight estimation but also on the second trimester dating. Therefore, these differences might already play a role in early fetal or immediate neonatal management. |
topic |
Fetal anthropometric gender differences Prenatal growth Birth outcomes Perinatal and neonatal management |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13293-019-0261-7 |
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